Finch return firms for must-win clash

Victorian could come back for Indore clash while a state teammate might have a new role

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Opener Aaron Finch could make a return to Australia's XI for their must-win game against India on Sunday after he trained strongly at practice on Saturday morning.

Finch missed the first two matches of the series due to a right calf problem but gave every indication on Saturday that he's returned to full fitness.

The Victorian was put through an intensive sprint session under the watch of experienced physio Alex Kountouris and after taking some catches at first slip, had a lengthy stint in the outfield nets at the 28,000-seat Holkar Stadium.

In between shots, the opener sprinted well between the wickets and his fitness will be assessed on match morning to determine if he’s clear to make a return.

"It's good signs to see him back in the nets and he's doing everything possible to be fit for this game," Finch's long-time opening partner David Warner said.

"We know what he's going to bring. He's a very good batter, he's played a lot of cricket over the past couple of years, he's got a lot of experience and for us at the top of the order, he brings a lot of aggression."

If Finch is cleared to play, he will seemingly replace rookie opener Hilton Cartwright, who managed just two runs in his first two one-day internationals to start this series.

The Aussies will confirm their XI at the toss on Sunday with Peter Handscomb also a chance to play as the tourists look to make amends for their poor showing with the bat in Kolkata last Thursday.

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Handscomb did some wicketkeeping drills with fielding coach Brad Haddin on Saturday and is the only option to take the gloves should selectors opt to discard out-of-form keeper-batsman Matthew Wade.

Wade has posted single-figure scores in five out of six innings since scoring a superb century against Pakistan in January and there was strong speculation on the recent Test tour of Bangladesh that Handscomb would take the gloves for the second match of that series in Chittagong, although that never eventuated.

Cartwright, whose strong performances in JLT Sheffield Shield cricket led to his elevation into Australia's Test side for two matches this year, averages less than 25 with the bat in 50-over cricket and managed just 101 runs at 17 for Western Australia in the domestic one-day competition last summer.

Cartwright's selection for this tour was criticised by former Test opener Ed Cowan this week, who said the top-performing batsmen in domestic 50-over cricket have been ignored.